Finance

Supply Issues Thwart Toyota, Honda Sales in August

A number of automakers experienced double-digit sales in August, with Chrysler leading the pack with 31 percent year-over-year increase in sales. Toyota and Honda, however, continued to grapple with supply issues while Ford, Acura, Audi, Hyundai and Mazda saw demand for their sport utility vehicles increase. On the luxury end, BMW sales slipped slightly during August due to inclement weather in the Northeastern region.

Toyota: Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) reported that 129,483 vehicles were sold in August, a 16.1 percent decrease from the same period last year. On a raw volume basis, TMS sales were down 12.7 percent from August 2010. Toyota Division sales decreased 16.9 percent, while Lexus Division sales decreased 10.6 percent on a year-over-year basis. The company’s hybrid vehicle sales decreased 17.4 percent to 13,273 units.

GM: General Motors Co. (GM) sold 218,479 units in August, an 18 percent year-over-year increase. Passenger car sales increased 18 percent, crossover sales increased 17 percent and truck sales increased 18 percent on a year-over-year basis. Retail deliveries were up 22 percent year over year and accounted for 74 percent of GM sales. The company also reported an 8 percent increase in deliveries to fleet customers.

Honda: American Honda Motor Co. Inc. reported a 27.2 percent sales increase, with the company reporting that 82,321 vehicles were sold in August. Officials attributed the sales decline to reduced vehicle supplies. Honda Division sales decreased 27.5 percent year over year to 73,267 vehicles, while Acura Division sales decreased 24.5 percent to 9.054 units. The Accord was the top-selling Honda model for August while the MDX was the top-selling Acura model.

Nissan: Nissan North America Inc. sales increased 19.2 percent to 91,541 units vs. 76,827 units in August 2010. Month over month, the group’s sales increased 21.8 percent from July. Nissan Division sales increased 22.4 percent in August, but Infiniti vehicle sales decreased 4.3 percent from the prior year. The company expects to see market-share gains going forward due to better vehicle availability and stronger performances from its top sellers.

Chrysler: Chrysler Group experienced its 17th consecutive month of year-over-year gains, with the company reporting a 31 percent increase in overall sales and a 42 percent increase in retail sales. Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram Truck brands all posted sales increases in August vs. the same month last year, with the new Chrysler 200 and 2012 Fiat 500 both posting their best sales months since their launch. Other models that contributed to the group’s 31 percent increase included the Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango, Dodge Journey and the Ram pickup truck.

Mercedes-Benz: Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) reported August sales of 20,728 vehicles, a 5.4 percent improvement over August 2010 sales. The month was also the company highest volume August since 2007. The highest volume performers for the month were the E- and C-Class model lines, with sales of 5,628 units and 4,728 units, respectively. The 2012 CLS-Class posted an 810.7 percent increase and sales of the new SLK roadster were up 138.6 percent over August 2010.

Audi: Audi USA had its fourth-best month ever with an 11.1 percent increase in sales. August also marked the eighth consecutive month of record-setting sales for the brand in the U.S. market. The company said the gains were buoyed by consumer demand to the 2012 Audi A6, which experienced a sales increase of 36.4 percent, and the Audi Q7, which experienced a 28.6 percent year-over-year sales increase.

Hyundai: Hyundai Motor America reported that 58,505 vehicles were sold in August, a 9 percent year-over-year sales increase and a 21 percent retail sales increase over last August. Fleet sales represented 11 percent of the total year-to-date sales and 10 percent for the month of August. Hyundai Accent sales increased 38 percent while the Santa Fe and Tucson experienced sales increase of 55 and 24 percent, respectively,

BMW: BMW Group sales decreased 0.2 percent in August to 23,924 vehicles, which the company attributed to lower consumer confidence and inclement weather in the Northeast. BMW brand vehicle sales increased 6.5 percent in August to 20,815 units, while MINI USA sales decreased 29.7 percent to 3,109 units, year over year. BMW Group cited a lack of MINI inventory during the company’s annual model year change over in July as the problem.

Mazda: Mazda North American Operations (MNAO)reported August sales of 22,632 vehicles, up 14.7 percent vs. August 2010. The Mazda2 celebrated its best month ever with a 195.7 percent year-over-year sales increase. The CX-7 and CX-9 crossover SUVs reported increases of 58.7 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively, while the Mazda5 posted a 15.7 percent year-over-year increase.

Volkswagen: Volkswagen of America Inc. sold 25,232 units in August 2011, a 10.4 percent increase from the prior year. August also marked the seventh consecutive month of double-digit growth for the company. Jetta sedan sales were up 55.5 percent over last year, while GTI and Golf sales increased by 59.5 percent and 20.2 percent, respectively. Overall sales of the 2012 Tiguan were up 25.5 percent, while Touareg sales increased 140.1 percent.